Bichaed goehall



(No Model.)

R. G ORNALL.

VENT FOR GASKS.

Patented May 9, 1882;

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD GORNVALL, OF BALTIMORE,MARYLAND,'ASSIGNOR oFoNnHALr T W.A.'ROBERTS, OF SAME PLACE.

VENT FOR CASKS.

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,692, dated May 9, 1852.

Application filed March 10, 1882 (No model.)

' To all whom 'Lt may concern Be it known that I, RIoHARDGORNALL, of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Vents for Gasks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in that class of devices employed for admitting air to the interior of barrels or kegs for the purpose of aiding in withdrawing the contents, commonly known as beer-vents.

My invention consists particularly in the combination, with the tube which is inserted into the bung of the barrel, of a peculiarlyshaped valve-chamber and an automaticallyoperating valve contained therein. Further, in setting the air-chamber and valve-at an angle to the tubular portion, by which the vertical movement of the valve is insured when the tube is inserted into a barrel placed in the usual inclined position; and, lastly, in the general construction and arrangement of the parts, as fully hereinafter explained- In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective; Fig. 2, a central vertical section of the vent; Fig. 3, a separate view of the valve. Fig. 4 shows a'moditication of the vent.

A represents the valve chamber; B, the socket, in which the tube E, which extends into the barrel, is screwed or soldered. The valve-chamber and socket are preferably cast of one piece ofmetal, and are provided with the lugl adapted to receive a cross-bar or handle,O, by means of which the device is forced into the bung and withdrawn therefrom. As shown in Fig. 2, the valve-chamber is internally screwthreaded and tapers upwardly, as shown and is also provided with a socket or recess, 2, which serves as a guide for the valve-stem, and also as an air-chamber, as hereinafter described. The chamber A is closed by a plug, D, having a threaded shank, a packing-rin g, 4, and a central opening or vent, 5, for the admission of the air. It is also provided with a milled head, 6, forconvenience in attaching and removing it by hand. The cavity in the plug tapers downwardly, with curved sides, circular in crosssection, and terminates in a round opening,

50 which forms a seat for the hemispherical face of the valve, so that the face only of the valve touches the seat, and the stem is in contact only at its upper end, where it fits closely in the guide-hole. The valve (shown separately in Fig. 3) is of hemispherical shape, and is provided with a stem, 7, of sufficient length to project up and fit closely in the socket 2.in the upper end of the valve-chamber. It will be seen thatthcvalve-chamberis set at an angle to the tube E. The tube is of a pointed or spur 6o shape, provided at its lower end with the opentags 8 8, by which the air is admitted to the cash. It is usual in setting beer-kegs to withdraw their contents to incline them slightly, in order to insure the escape of their entire con- 6 tents. It would happen, therefore, that if the valve-chamber were parallel to the tube E the valve-stem might bind in its socket, or the valve might be stopped in its downward movement by the walls of the chamber, and would not securely close the opening. By my construction, however, when the tube is thrust through the bung at the angle atwhich the keg is usually placed the chamber assumes a substantially perpendicular position, and the valve necessarily drops vertically to its full extent, it being prevented from coming in contact with the sides of the chamber by the guidestem working in the socket before described.

In the operation of the device the tube E is thrust through the bung and thefaucet started. The vacuum created in the keg slightly raises the valve, and the air is admitted to the chamber,whence it passes through the tube into the keg. When the flow of beer stops the valvedrops by gravity and prevents the admission of air, and its movement is rendered certain by the pressure of the air contained in the socket 2 in the upper part of the valve-chamber. The valve-seat being brought to an edge, as shown in Fig. 2, the hemispherical shape of the valve causes it to project slightly outside of the orifice in the plug. Hence it is easy, in case it should stick or refuse to work, to start it by the pressure of the finger upon the exposed 5 lower surface, a touch being sufficient to free it. The outer face of the cap D is made concave, and by this means protects the valve from being opened by any substance striking the capface.

In my device I am enabled toruse an exceedinglyilight and sensitive valve, which will require only a slight pressure to lift it sufficiently to admit air to the conical chamber. This offers decided advantages over that class of devices in which the valve fits closely in a tube and must be lifted to a certain height before exposing the opening which connects with the interior of the barrel.

Fig. 4 shows a modified form of the vent adapted to be inserted directly into the venthole when no cork or plug is used. It differs from the form heretofore described only inextern al shape.

Having thus described my invention, what I claiui '1. In coinbination with the tube adapted for insertion into a barrel or keg, an inclined valvechamber, and a gravity-valve having a stem, the said chamber being provided with a guide 20 socket or recess for such valve-stem.

2. Combined with a tube adapted to be inserted into a barrel 0r cask, a valve-chamber connected with such tube and having a recess,

2, a screw-plug adapted to fit in such chamber 2 5 and having a vent-orifice and an upwardly-ta- .pering internal cavity, and a gravity-valve having a guide stem, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name 0 to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

i RIO HARD GORNALL.

Witnesses: I

FELIX B. SULLIVAN, WM. DEEDRIDGE. 

